Protective effects of ischemic preconditioning on the mucosal barrier of transplanted intestine in rats

Objective: To investigate the protection of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) against intestinal mucosa barrier in intestinal transplanted rats with ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Methods: Using rat model of intestine I/R injury, Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into 3 groups with 8 in each group: sham operation (SO) group, I/R group and IPC group, respectively. The changes of intestinal mucosa pathomorphology were detected. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities of intestinal mucosa were detected in each group. Apoptosis of mucosal cells was detected by TUNEL method and the expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 were determined. Results: Compared with that in I/R group, the pathomorphology of intestinal mucosa was evidently improved in IPC group (P<0.05); MDA content and MPO activity of intestinal tissues were significantly reduced (P<0.05) while SOD activity was significantly increased (P<0.05). The apoptotic cell index of the mucosal cells was lower in IPC group than in I/R group (P<0.05). In comparison with I/R group, Bcl-2 expression increased (P<0.05) and Bax expression decreased significantly in IPC group. Conclusion: IPC plays an important role in protecting against intestinal mucosa barrier in intestinal transplanted rats with ischemia-reperfusion.